Norwalk Police Officers Like the Classroom Beat

By SHARON L. BASS

Published: April 24, 1988

WHEN Norwalk Police Officer Carleton Giles walks into a high school classroom he's not looking for trouble and he's not visiting -he's there to teach.

In a collaborative effort between the Norwalk Police Department and the Board of Education, Officer Giles and another youth officer are now permanent part-time teachers who have taken over high school classes twice a week since January.

Dressed in full uniform with guns, they talk to the students about drug abuse, arrests, due process, personal safety and careers in law enforcement. ''Most importantly, we get teens to like us, to know we can be friends,'' Officer Giles said. ''Our jobs usually carry a very negative implication.''

One student readily agreed. ''We feel cops are out to get us,'' said Angel Telesco, a senior at Brien McMahon High School in Norwalk. ''Giles keeps you from being intimidated by cops.''

Another student, Luigi Tucciarone, 16 years old, added, ''he makes you less scared.''

Sgt. Rosemary Nivakoff, commanding officer of the Youth Division of the Norwalk Police Department, said the department and the Board of Education met last summer to plan the project. She said she wanted to show people ''we are not just in the business of arresting people, but also to educate.''

This fall the teaching program will expand to five days a week, with Officer Giles covering the elementary schools and Officer Timothy Murphy teaching at Brien McMahon and Norwalk High Schools.

''Does anyone know where the juvenile court is?'' Officer Giles recently asked his 11th-to-12th grade class. No one knew. He proceeded to explain how the law handles juvenile cases differently than adult cases. ''The law treats juveniles like a wise parent; it tries to correct the problem, while the emphasis for an adult criminal is on punishment. What are the exceptions to this rule?''

Without props or gimmicks, just a piece of chalk and a chalkboard, Officer Giles kept the class lively and interesting. He encouraged questions and discussion; he laughed with them and took their concerns seriously. He also did not seem to mind being teased.

''What allows me as a police officer to give you a warning if I catch you with beer while driving a car?'' he asked the class.

''Probable cause?'' a student answered.

''Friendship?'' another yelled out in a sarcastic tone. Officer Giles and the class broke out in laughter.

He then explained search and seizure, the importance of having a search warrant and the roles of the undercover officer and the prosecutor.

''What happens to the drugs after they're confiscated?'' a student asked.

''Contrary to popular belief, they're discarded, not used by police officers,'' Officer Giles said.

The class moaned, ''Yeah, yeah, sure.''

He laughed and said jokingly, ''Yeah, you're right; we all have a big party.''

Jack Connolly, chairman of the social studies department at Brien McMahon High School, has sat in on some of Officer Giles's lectures. ''I think the program is fantastic,'' he said. ''The students' attitudes are changing. They open up to him and are not afraid to ask questions. Some of their previous experiences with the police were negative and I think Giles has presented another side. It's a very human approach.''

A 17-year-old student, Darlene Wilson, said: ''Most people don't understand the kind of trouble you can get in with drugs. He lets you know what can happen.''